The Eleventh Commandment
The=
Chief
Characteristic of an Authentic Christian
Actively Loving Other Christians
=
John
13:34-35
Introduction
Background of=
The New Commandment
It was in the most te=
nder and
most sensitive of moments.
It was during the Las=
t Supper.
Jesus had just washed=
the
feet of his disciples.
Footwashing was a deg=
rading
and lowly task.
“a=
new
commandment”
In an emphatic positi=
on in
the Greek – it is important!
There are two Greek w=
ords
that are translated “new.”
One means “new =
in time.”
This “new”
(kainos - kainoV) commandment here,
however, means new as to form or quality, and is contrasted to that which is =
old.
But the “new” (kainos) also strongly
implies freshness.
This difference and freshness is the deep, mutual affection Christians have for =
one
another because of the love Christ has had for them.
A brotherhood would be
created by His death for us.
There would be a new
relationship within that brotherhood.
His example of tirele=
ss
service and self-sacrificing love poured out on the cross must be the patte=
rn
for our attitude and relation to one another.
Voluntary obedience to this commandment is of
paramount importance for the spiritual welfare of the disciples and the chu=
rch
itself.
Jesus’ =
new
commandment is different in form and quality from the commandments in the O=
ld
Testament.
The O. T. had commanded that all men be loved.
But Jesus’ comm=
andment
was more specific and more intense.
It established a comm=
unity of
his disciples that he desired to be characterized by their love for one
another. It was to be a close, intimate, loving community – actively
displaying love for one another.
We have a culturized Christianity.
Our idea of being a C=
hristian
is
Believing in Jesus and the gospel<= o:p>
Being baptized
Going
to church regularly
Not
committing certain sins
Giving
money to the church
Maybe
being involved in some church program.
But this was NOT Jesus idea of Christianity!
While Jesus idea of
Christianity includes some of these things, there is one major activity or
characteristic that Jesus had in mind when he describes his true followers.=
That characteristic is love – not just
sentimental love.
But active love that serves one another.
The Defining Distinction of
Love
John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another.
The badge of true discipleship is love for all t=
hose
who love the Lord.
Our actions toward ot=
her
Christians confirm our relationship with Jesu=
s.
The church is to bear the unmistakable stamp of
Christ’s love.
This new commandment
historically associated with Communion
It is the heart of
The
oneness of believers,
Their
Lord’s love for them,
And
their love for one another
Bruce Corley Article: “Biblic=
al
Theology of the New Testament”
In his book:&nbs=
p; Foundations for Biblical Interpretatio=
n
“Christ’s=
people
are characterized by the ethic of love, whereby the ‘is-ness’ of
grace is linked with the ‘ought-ness’ of love through the work =
of
the Spirit.”
Th=
e gospel
is
A
person to be welcomed,
A
body of truths to be believed,
And a life to be lived.
The gospel is received, believed and lived out!<= o:p>
And living out the go=
spel
means loving the ones bought by His blood!
The Divine Demonstration of
Love
&nb=
sp; John
13:34
&nb=
sp; Just =
as I
have loved you, you must also love one another.
Ephesians 5:2
And walk
in love, as the Messiah
also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering =
to
God.
Christ showed his love for= us by His death.
John 15:13
No
one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his
friends.
So in 1 John 3:16 it is said that
This =
is how
we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay
down our lives for our brothers.
Love
As Christ Loved Us
The
standard of comparison is Jesus’ love (13:1).
This
love was exemplified in his footwashing.
His
footwashing pointed to his death.
His
death proved the extent of his love.
The
extent of his love requires a life-time to explore.
Ephesians 3:17-19
and
that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. [I pray that]
The bracketed text=
has
been added for clarity. you, =
being
rooted and firmly established in love,
The
extent of his love compels us to love others as he loved us.
1. Christ’=
s love
for us was strong.
2. Christ’= s love for us was sacrificial.
3. Christ’= s love for us was serving.
Jesus wa= shed the feet of everyone, including Judas.
5. Christ’= s love for us is secure (stedfast).
Unless one has a profound experience of being loved, it is virtually
impossible to express profound love for others.
Love is the h=
allmark
of those in whose lives the presence of God is being reflected.
Tertullian
“It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that = lead many to put a brand upon us! ‘See’ they say, ‘ how they love one another . . . see how they are ready even to die f= or one another.’”
Understanding
Christ’s Love for Us Leads Us to Self-Examination
We begin to recognize=
our
selfishness, our innate self-centeredness, and the depth of our own sin.
This was a new expression of love; and it showed the strength of attachment which we ought to have for Christians, and how ready= we should be to endure hardships, to encounter dangers, and to practise self-denial, to benefit those for whom the Son of God laid down his life.
The Divine Dynamic of
Love
&nbs=
p; Romans 5:5
This =
hope
does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out in our he=
arts
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
&nbs=
p; Galatians 5:22
But t=
he fruit
of the Spirit is love
The Definite Development of
Love
John 15:12-13
This
is My command: love one another as I have loved =
you.
No one has greate=
r love
than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.
How Should We Love Like Chri=
st
Loved?
1. An Ac=
t of Self-Emptying
Is Required
First, negatively, but refusing to be self-absorbed. L= oving as Christ loved us requires an emptying ourselves, a denial of self, a consecration of our lives to serve God by serving others.
2. An Ac=
t of Self-Consecration
Is Required
3. Many =
Acts
of Serving Others Are Required
&nb=
sp; Galatians
6:2
Carry=
one
another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Then, positiv=
ely, we
see some things Christ did in his life that we too should do in ours to lov=
e as
he loved:
1.&n=
bsp; =
;
By being th=
ere
for people when they are going through hurt
2.&n=
bsp; =
;
By helping =
people
out of compassion when they have needs
3.&n=
bsp; =
;
By befriend=
ing,
encouraging and lifting up pe=
ople
who feel guilty and rejected
4.&n=
bsp; =
;
By praying
earnestly for our brother’s and sister’s spiritual needs
5.&n=
bsp; =
;
By visiting=
the
sick, bereaved and shut-ins
6.&n=
bsp; =
;
By being a =
friend
to lonely outcasts
Conclusion
To love one a=
nother
as Christ has loved us –
Is the 11th commandment!!!<= o:p>
If we break i=
t, we
violate Christ’s law!
If we break i=
t, we are
as wrong as if we broke one of the 10 !!
We are obliga=
ted to
love one another with selfless, sacrificial love BECAUSE of=
the
love He had for us!